Today you will learn a new skill and a new mindset guaranteed to touch you deeply. This is so exciting, because it will affect your mind, your heart, your kids, your spouse (or future spouse), your coworkers, your clients… every person in your life.

Today has the potential to change the way you think, act, work and communicate, and set you apart from the majority of the people in the world.

Think about it – everyone wants to be happy and satisfied, to live a fulfilled life. If you look around you today, you’ll see a world full of people who constantly search for satisfaction, but many never quite find it.

But I’m here to tell you, happiness IS possible for everyone, no matter their circumstances. But there could be something actually sabotaging your happiness. And today, I want to expose it!

This particular thing not only affects your happiness, but it bleeds into your work life to kill your productivity while triggering stress and procrastination. It causes others to not want to work with you, live with you or be around you. It will try to creep into your life and take over your emotions, your family, your business or career, your finances and your relationships.

See, I’ve traveled all over the world and I’ve noticed something really interesting. I’ve spent a lot of time in places like Belize, Jamaica, India, Mexico, the UK and all over Europe, Australia, Nicaragua, along with most major cities in the US. And I can tell you, people everywhere are searching for satisfaction.

That’s why we eat the foods we eat, hang out with the people we hang out with, and why some people work endless hours, shop excessively or even cheat on their spouses.

But I see more satisfaction around me when I travel in Third World countries than I do in “rich” countries. I see more smiles, more laughter, more affection. Even though some of these countries are so desperately poor, I see so much joy. I see people talking to each other and loving on each other.

When you step into the US or Europe or Australia, on the other hand, you just don’t see the same level of happiness. We have more cars than drivers; we build houses for our cars; we have more clothes than we could ever wear; we throw food away every day; we are glued to technology; yet, these people are miserable.

So where does satisfaction come from? What makes people truly happy? What makes people feel fulfilled?

Psychologists at the University of Michigan suggest gratitude has a lot to do with satisfaction in life. In fact, California State University found as gratitude increases, so does life satisfaction, happiness, positive attitudes, hope and even academic performance in kids.

Did you catch that? GRATITUDE is the key to happiness!

Here’s something else I find rather interesting: According to CBS News, only 45% of Americans are satisfied with their work. Economists say a lack of job satisfaction hurts innovation, competitiveness and productivity. CBS News also reported 1 in 4 people say they have fewer, or worse, opportunities today than their parents’ generation did.

But you really need to evaluate… how do you feel about the opportunities in front of you? Do you feel your opportunities are limited? Why are people not satisfied with the opportunities they do have today?

Truthfully, your perception becomes your reality, whether it is actual reality or not. What you focus on, you get more of – but you will always be limited by what you cannot see. If you grumble and complain about a lack of the right opportunities, you are never going to find the “right” opportunities! Complaining causes you to focus on what’s wrong, instead of focusing on finding solutions.

Complaining, never being satisfied, carrying unforgiveness, being ungrateful, blaming others, living a stressful life and waiting for satisfaction and happiness to magically appear, are all things sabotaging your happiness.

Here’s the reality: Gratitude does not come naturally for any of us. Which is why you must choose to be grateful every single day.

I became homeless when I was 21 years old. But after a month, I decided I was done being homeless. I told myself to find one thing I was thankful for and focus on that. And it was the fact I lived in Hawaii. I didn’t like Hawaii, but I figured, people spend their life savings just to come to Hawaii for a week. I chose to focus on one thing that was going right for me. And it’s interesting what happened next…

The very next day, I started a business from the trunk of my car and a payphone booth, and within 2 years, I became a millionaire. And it all started by simply focusing on what I was grateful for.

I know things are hard for a lot of people right now. I know millions of people suffer and struggle, suffocating under their debt, hurting in their relationships, desperately searching for answers and seeking relief. But you MUST find something to be grateful for.

My friend, if what you focus on is what you get more of, then you must start focusing on the right things! Focus on being grateful. Focus on finding satisfaction in your work and your personal life. Take responsibility for your circumstances, make a decision and then make a change. Focus on helping other people. Focus on building relationships. Focus on reaching your goals. Focus on forgiving others. Focus on what is going right, and you will begin to see more of those things in your life.

Don’t let ungratefulness rob you of your happiness. Don’t let it take over your emotions, your family, your work, your finances or your relationships. Don’t let it steal your joy and control your life. Choose gratitude. Choose satisfaction. Choose joy… especially today, especially in this season.

People everywhere are suffering, and it may even be you – but YOU have a choice. The studies prove it. My own life proves it. Gratitude is the key to happiness. Ungratefulness sabotages your happiness. It’s your choice. Please tell me what YOU’RE grateful for on our Dani Johnson Facebook page!

In great faith,

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